Physics and Astrophysics MPhys
The University of Sheffield
Key Course Facts
Student Reviews
Below you can see course specific reviews of 50 graduates of Physics and Astrophysics MPhys and other courses in Physics at The University of Sheffield for each of the survey questions in comparison to the average for all UK degree courses in Physics.
Primarily based on data from undergraduate degree students.
All Physics courses of The University of Sheffield
Salary
Salary of Graduates in Physics
Important: Salary data below is not course specific, but contains data of all students of Physics at the university. Due to data collection methodology, salary data is mainly based on data related to undergraduate students.
| 15 months after graduation | 3 years after graduation | 5 years after graduation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median salary | £29500 | £26500 | £33500 |
| 25-75 percentile range | £25500 - £32500 | £23500 - £35000 | £29000 - £43000 |
All Physics courses of The University of Sheffield
Salary of all UK Graduates of Physics
| 15 months after graduation | 3 years after graduation | 5 years after graduation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median salary | £28798 | £28909 | £34253 |
| 25-75 percentile range | £24694 - £33005 | £22390 - £36739 | £26224 - £45922 |
All Physics courses in the UK
Course Description
On this course, you’ll spend half your degree studying astrophysics modules, more than most other UK astrophysics courses. You’ll also develop the skills for a career in research, whether you want to help map the universe as an astrophysicist or apply your scientific knowledge to solve problems in industry.
There are two telescopes on the roof of our building, which you’ll be trained to use from your first year. We also run a telescope on La Palma in the Canary Islands, which students use during our annual field trip.
At the start of your course, in lectures and lab classes you’ll cover the essential physics behind everything else you’ll study: heat, motion, electricity, magnetism and quantum mechanics. You’ll also begin studying the fundamentals of astronomy and astrophysics with modules that cover our solar system, stars, galaxies and basic cosmology. There are practical sessions using our telescopes and, in programming classes, you can learn skills that are essential to modern astrophysics and valuable in many graduate careers, from data science to computer game design.
You’ll explore essential physics in even more depth in your second year, and continue to specialise in astrophysics with modules on the structure and evolution of stars and galaxies. You’ll do more practical work with our telescopes and continue to develop your programming skills.
In third year, you can branch out into lots of different areas and complete your own research project in astrophysics. Your core modules will cover topics like cosmology and stellar atmospheres. Optional modules include topics such as dark matter and nuclear astrophysics.
A variety of optional modules are also available in the fourth year, when you’ll also be working on a major research project. You’ll choose a research topic in astrophysics and work closely with a member of academic staff who is an expert in the area you want to explore. The project takes up around half of your final year and can lead to a publication in a scientific journal.
Accredited by the Institute of Physics (IOP) for the purpose of fully meeting the educational requirement for Chartered Physicist.
Jobs & Career Perspectives
15 months after graduation, graduates of this course were asked about what they do and, if they are working, about their current job and their perspectives.
All Physics courses of The University of Sheffield
Current jobs
All courses of The University of Sheffield
Required skill level of job after 15 months
All Physics courses of The University of Sheffield
Jobs of graduates of this course (15 months after graduation)
Example below based on all graduates of Physics and Astrophysics MPhys at The University of Sheffield
| 25% | Business and public service associate professionals |
| 15% | Engineering professionals |
| 15% | Caring personal services |
| 10% | Conservation and environment professionals |
| 5% | Artistic, literary and media occupations |
| 5% | Sales occupations |
| 5% | Finance Professionals |
| 5% | Artistic, literary and media occupations |
| 5% | Business and public service associate professionals |
| 5% | Sales occupations |
Grading & Study Time
Entry Requirements / Admissions
UCAS Tariff of Accepted Students for this course
This particular course
Costs
Tuition Fees Physics and Astrophysics MPhys
| England UK | £9250 | year 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Ireland | £9250 | year 1 |
| Scotland | £9250 | year 1 |
| Wales | £9250 | year 1 |
| International | £29110 | year 1 |
Average student cost of living in the UK
| Rent | £518 |
| Water, gas electricity, internet (at home) | £50 |
| Supermarket shopping | £81 |
| Clothing | £35 |
| Eating out | £33 |
| Alcohol | £27 |
| Takeaways / food deliveries | £30 |
| Going out / entertainment (excl.alcohol, food) | £24 |
| Holidays and weekend trips | £78 |
| Transport within city | £17 |
| Self-care / sports | £20 |
| Stationary / books | £13 |
| Mobile phone / internet | £13 |
| Cable TV / streaming | £7 |
| Insurance | £51 |
| Other | £95 |
| Average student cost of living | £1092 |
London costs approx 34% more than average, mainly due to rent being 67% higher than average of other cities. For students staying in student halls, costs of water, gas, electricity, wifi are generally included in the rental. Students in smaller cities where accommodation is in walking/biking distance transport costs tend to be significantly smaller.
How to apply
Application deadline:
January 1, 2025
This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Possible Entry Points:
- year 1 (Default entry point)
University Rankings
Positions of The University of Sheffield in top UK and global rankings.
Rankings of The University of Sheffield in related subject specific rankings.
Natural Sciences
-
-
- #28
- #36
-
- Physics
-
The Guardian University League Tables by Subject
[Published 09 September, 2023]
-
-
- #8
- #133
-
- Physics
-
NTU Rankings by Subject
[Published 11 July, 2023]
-
-
- #14
- #151
-
- Physics
-
GRAS Global Ranking of Academic Subjects - ShanghaiRanking
[Published 27 October, 2023]
See all 34 university rankings of The University of Sheffield
About The University of Sheffield
The University of Sheffield is a government funded research university based in Sheffield, England. The university’s vision is to change the world for the better through the power and application of ideas and knowledge. This university does not have campuses, but instead approximately 430 buildings that are located quite close to each other in Sheffield’s metropolitan city centre.
List of 363 Bachelor and Master Courses from The University of Sheffield - Course Catalogue
Student composition of The University of Sheffield
-
Total number of students enrolled at The University of Sheffield by level Academic year 2021/22 - Full-time equivalent student enrollments published by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) on February 2022
- undergraduates:
- 19190
- postgraduates:
- 9285
- Total:
- 28475
-
Number of students enrolled in courses of subject “Astrophysics”: Academic year - Full-time equivalent student enrollments published by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) on February 2022
Where is this programme taught
Show on map
Similar courses
| Program | University | Student satisfaction | Unemployed | Dropout | Tuition (UK) | Tuition (International) |  UCAS Tariff |
City | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Physics with Astrophysics (with a year abroad) MPhys | The University of York | - | 5% | 9% | £9250 | £28800 | 170 | York | On campus Full-time |
|
|
Physics with Astrophysics (with a year in Industry) MPhys (Hons) | The University of York | 83% | 5% | 9% | £9250 | £28800 | 170 | York | On campus Full-time |
|
|
Physics and Astrophysics with an Industrial Placement Year MPhys | The University of Sheffield | 85% | 5% | 5% | £9250 | £29110 | 166 | Sheffield | On campus Full-time |
|
Physics with Astrophysics Msci (Hons) | University of Bristol | - | - | - | £9250 | £29300 | - | Bristol | On campus Full-time |
|
Physics, Astrophysics and Cosmology MPhys (Hons) | University of Portsmouth | 92% | 5% | 0% | £9250 | £20200 | 125 | Portsmouth | On campus Full-time |
|
Physics with Astrophysics MPhys | University of Exeter | - | - | - | £9250 | £29700 | - | Exeter | On campus Full-time |
|
|
Physics with Astrophysics MPhys | The University of York | 92% | 0% | 0% | £9250 | £28800 | 148 | York | On campus Full-time |
|
Astrophysics MPhys | Cardiff University | 83% | 0% | 0% | £9000 | £25450 £28200 | 142 | Cardiff | On campus Full-time |
|
Astrophysics Msci (Hons) | University College London | 77% | 10% | 0% | £9250 | £35000 | 206 | London | On campus Full-time |
|
Astrophysics MPhys | Aberystwyth University | 72% | 5% | 0% | £9000 | £18830 | 107 | Aberystwyth | On campus Full-time |
Ranking publishers
The Guardian News and Media Limited
- Published:
- 09 September, 2023
ShanghaiRanking Consultancy
- Published:
- 27 October, 2023
NTU ranking
- Published:
- 11 July, 2023
